Saturday, February 26, 2011

Why we fuss so much about pranayama

Most instructors avoid teaching pranayama properly. Often it could simply because they themselves do not practice it. The other reason could be that they realise most students find it boring. However, it is a very core point of yoga. Also, u don't need to experiment wildly with several practices. Only after regularly practising a few daily can u advance to other pranayamas.

Some instructors are also inhibited teaching pranayama because they believe it has some psychic and mystical value(it has that also). But for a beginner in yoga, the impact is largely biological.

Below is why: According to the well-researched book Freedom from Stress by Dr Phil Nurenberger the nasal passages regulate the pressure of air entering and leaving the lungs. This can be measured by the Cottle rhino meter. This pressure sets off reflexes in other parts of the body, including the brain and the autonomous nervous system. This in turn can have important psychological and physiological impact.

For one, the nasal lining has a heavy cluster of nerve endings. It has erectile tissue similar to that found in the genital region, which manipulates the flow of breath which in turn affects the inner homeostasis. The roof of the nasal cavity is closest to the master gland pituitary which is constantly managing the homeostat of our internal biological functions like temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, breath rate, blood circulation etc.

And since it is also closest to the olfactory nerve, the nasal air flow is also linked to the most primitive part of our limbic system that strongly affect our subconscious and emotional impulses.

4 comments:

Shameem,Yoga is like returning home. In all other practices, we constantly pressure ourselves to do more-be it running,dancing,boxing -our mind would be screaming to our body "come on, you can do it, just 2 more rounds, COME ON!"..But in Yoga, no one tells us what to do..We just go with the flow,and for me thats what makes it a lifesaver. In the modern corporate world that is full of shoving and politics and pretentiousness, yoga is the only place where I can be me :-)

Hi, first time on your blog. Really like the way you shAre your thought. Doing yoga for 2 years now. Want to explore prANaYam in depth. The literature is limited and bit confusing. And there are no classes for teaching only that. Can you suggest some way to dive deeper.? Thanks.

World as illusion: science speak

But our experience of a stable outside world is a consistent illusion that the brain creates. It is an illusion that has been `designed' long before we arrived on earth, for the purpose of biological survival. The illusion begins at the first neuron. Our senses grab only a little of reality; the eye takes in a trillionth of the energy which reaches it, the ear similarly. So, our experience of the world as stable is so because of the way the brain is organized, not because of the way the world is.

From The Healing Brain, by Robert Ornstein and David Sobel. For more astounding quotes go here...

DHYAN GYAN: silent yogi

Maharishi says

Wanting to reform the world without discovering one's true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.

They know better:)

Enter your search termsSubmit search form

Free MySpace Animations!It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. BuddhaFor more Tao go here.